36 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



lem was to apply the fundamental prin- age class ; instead there is 55 per cent 



ciples of forest management; ripe tim- in the oldest age class. They can and 



ber should be cut and the yield should should cut more than their growth.) 



be regulated with regard to the amount The road system of this revier is won- 



of forest capital standing on each unit derfully complete and well maintained 



of area. By extending the road system — 68 miles of splendid woods roads 



portions of the forest previously inac- (which, by the way, compare most 



cessible were opened up and were able favorably with some of our State 



to do their share in furnishing the an- roads), and 95 miles of slide ways. The 



Tuial cut. woods roads are from 4 to 6 meters in 



As one would expect, from the silvi- width, limited to a grade of 10 per cent, 



cultural and economic conditions found and cost from $2 to $2.50 per running 



here they have avoided a clear cutting meter. For the extension and mainte- 



system ; the Selection method being used nance of this system $4,500 per year is 



on steep slopes and the Group method set aside from the forest budget ; a large 



on benches and gentle slopes. This is sum to be spent annually on roads from 



not only gives Forstmeister Stephanie our point of view, but absolutely neces- 



great freedom in locating his cuttings sary and economical on a perpetually 



but also keeps the slopes under cover, managed forest. 



which prevents erosion and does not The interest that this revier has for 



offend the eye of any of the many tour- the American forester is the fact that 



ists who pass through the valley of the conditions of climate, site, past treat- 



Murg. ment, etc., are as similar to those found 



The criticisms so often leveled in the Adirondacks as the two countries 



against these systems viz.. slow to re- will permit (timber higher and labor 



generate, apt to produce inferior tim- cheaper in Germany, of course), 



ber, expensive, etc., carry little weight Under State direction they have col- 



with the Forstmeister. lected a group of holdings previously 



Natural regeneration is all that could mismanaged : they have exploited areas 

 be desired, out of the 105 acres re- previously uncut and carefully re- 

 generated each year, about one-fifth generated previously overcut areas, 

 only is reproduced artificially ; concern- They have reforested where necessary 

 ing the quality of the timber, 72 to 80 to complete the stand ; they have ex- 

 per cent is "use wood" and as far as tended the road system at a cost equal 

 the financial side is concerned, the enor- to one-sixth of the net income and have 

 mous revenue of $11 per acre per year found it profitable, and as proof of the 

 net, speaks for itself. It is only fair to pudding they are getting more from 

 state, however, that a portion of this these steep, rocky acres than many of 

 phenomenal yield is due to their grad- the so-called agricultural lands in the 

 ual removal of the surplus of forest United States will yield. All of which 

 capital in the older age classes. (With has been done without impairing the 

 their rotation of 120 years, periods be- beauty of the Murg Valley, so that it 

 ing 20 years each, one would expect is still a favorite recreation spot with 

 one-sixth of the forest capital in each the tourist and health seeker. 



There are 703 bighorns or mountain sheep in the national forests of Nevada. 



In 26 States there are State foresters who cooperate with private tiniberland owners in 

 solving forest problems. 



The forest service maintains nine experiment stations for studies in reforestation and 

 similar subjects. 



A national arboretum is being established in Rock Creek National Park, District of 

 Columbia. Eventually it zvill contain all American tree species ivhich ivill thrive there. 



